Core technologies for virtual worlds (RIA) (Virtual Worlds and Photonics Partnerships)
HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-14
Funding Amount
€5.0M - €6.0M
Deadline
02/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Core technologies for virtual worlds (RIA) (Virtual Worlds and Photonics Partnerships) Call?
Grant Description
This call funds research and innovation actions to develop core technologies for Virtual Worlds, targeting better, more realistic, and high-performance multimodal interaction and immersion (Area A) or advanced optics and photonics technologies for display and sensing devices (Area B). Projects must clearly select one area, integrate transdisciplinary research including social sciences and humanities, ensure ethical, secure and interoperable solutions, and demonstrate real-world applicability to ...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Proposals should deliver one of the following:
Area A: Demonstrated improvements in multimodal XR immersion combining at least two sensory modalities, with advanced synchronization and user-experience metrics, enhancing realism and performance of virtual-world interactions.
Area B: Advanced optics and photonics components for microdisplays or sensing devices, achieving lower power consumption, higher resolution (≥8 K, >10 kppi), superior HDR, colour gamut, contrast, refresh rate, improved sensing accuracy under diverse conditions, lightweight safe form factors, and cost-effective, scalable manufacturing suitable for mass adoption.
Additionally, across both areas:
• Validated, user-centric solutions tested in real-world environments and at least one application domain.
• Evidence of reliability, robustness, interoperability, and compliance with EU values (inclusivity, privacy, security, diversity).
• Contribution to open XR standards and ongoing standardisation work.
• Inclusion of SSH-informed analyses demonstrating societal impact and fostering awareness, acceptance and adoption of virtual-world applications across sectors.
Area A: Demonstrated improvements in multimodal XR immersion combining at least two sensory modalities, with advanced synchronization and user-experience metrics, enhancing realism and performance of virtual-world interactions.
Area B: Advanced optics and photonics components for microdisplays or sensing devices, achieving lower power consumption, higher resolution (≥8 K, >10 kppi), superior HDR, colour gamut, contrast, refresh rate, improved sensing accuracy under diverse conditions, lightweight safe form factors, and cost-effective, scalable manufacturing suitable for mass adoption.
Additionally, across both areas:
• Validated, user-centric solutions tested in real-world environments and at least one application domain.
• Evidence of reliability, robustness, interoperability, and compliance with EU values (inclusivity, privacy, security, diversity).
• Contribution to open XR standards and ongoing standardisation work.
• Inclusion of SSH-informed analyses demonstrating societal impact and fostering awareness, acceptance and adoption of virtual-world applications across sectors.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Select and clearly identify either Area A or Area B.
• Area A: integrate a minimum of two modalities in an XR application; develop novel scientific approaches or push existing limits to synchronise and integrate modalities for seamless, realistic multimodal immersion.
• Area B: design and fabricate advanced optics/photonics components to improve microdisplay and sensing performance (power <1 mW, ≥8 K resolution, >10 kppi, HDR, full colour gamut, contrast, refresh rate; sensing accuracy across lighting and eye physiology); ensure field of view, lightweight, safety, colour uniformity, brightness, scalability and cost-effectiveness; seamless integration into mixed-reality devices without added bulk or reduced comfort.
• Emphasise quality of technological and user integration.
• Include focused human perception and experience evaluation (subjective, objective, functional).
• Comply with EU values: inclusivity, privacy, security, safety, data protection, diversity; guarantee secure, trustworthy interactions.
• Ensure solutions are reliable, robust, interoperable; leverage and contribute to open XR standards.
• Test applications in real-world environments; target at least one application domain.
• Typical project duration: ~36 months (other durations allowed).
• Mandatory involvement of Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines and experts.
• Allocate resources for cohesion activities with the Virtual Worlds and Photonics Partnerships (including CSA HUMAN-17).
• Single-stage Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action; submission by 02 Oct 2025.
• Area A: integrate a minimum of two modalities in an XR application; develop novel scientific approaches or push existing limits to synchronise and integrate modalities for seamless, realistic multimodal immersion.
• Area B: design and fabricate advanced optics/photonics components to improve microdisplay and sensing performance (power <1 mW, ≥8 K resolution, >10 kppi, HDR, full colour gamut, contrast, refresh rate; sensing accuracy across lighting and eye physiology); ensure field of view, lightweight, safety, colour uniformity, brightness, scalability and cost-effectiveness; seamless integration into mixed-reality devices without added bulk or reduced comfort.
• Emphasise quality of technological and user integration.
• Include focused human perception and experience evaluation (subjective, objective, functional).
• Comply with EU values: inclusivity, privacy, security, safety, data protection, diversity; guarantee secure, trustworthy interactions.
• Ensure solutions are reliable, robust, interoperable; leverage and contribute to open XR standards.
• Test applications in real-world environments; target at least one application domain.
• Typical project duration: ~36 months (other durations allowed).
• Mandatory involvement of Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines and experts.
• Allocate resources for cohesion activities with the Virtual Worlds and Photonics Partnerships (including CSA HUMAN-17).
• Single-stage Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action; submission by 02 Oct 2025.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• This topic is co-programmed by the European Partnership for Virtual Worlds and the Photonics Partnership; proposals must include tasks for cohesion activities with both partnerships (including CSA HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-17).
• Evaluation will ensure a balanced portfolio by funding at least two high-ranked proposals in each Area A and Area B, subject to meeting all thresholds.
• Admissibility, eligibility, exclusion, and evaluation rules as per Horizon Europe General Annexes A–F apply.
• Grants use the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based (MGA Horizon-AG) model; financial and legal setup per General Annex G.
• Participants must be from eligible EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries (see General Annex B).
• Proposals must respect page limits and layouts (Work Programme Annexes A and E; Application Form Part B).
• Must use standard application and evaluation forms available in the Funding & Tenders Portal; comply with the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
• Solutions must adhere to EU data protection, ethical, safety and security regulations; ensure IP management per EU Financial Regulation and Model Grant Agreement.
• Single-stage submission by 02 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Evaluation will ensure a balanced portfolio by funding at least two high-ranked proposals in each Area A and Area B, subject to meeting all thresholds.
• Admissibility, eligibility, exclusion, and evaluation rules as per Horizon Europe General Annexes A–F apply.
• Grants use the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based (MGA Horizon-AG) model; financial and legal setup per General Annex G.
• Participants must be from eligible EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries (see General Annex B).
• Proposals must respect page limits and layouts (Work Programme Annexes A and E; Application Form Part B).
• Must use standard application and evaluation forms available in the Funding & Tenders Portal; comply with the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
• Solutions must adhere to EU data protection, ethical, safety and security regulations; ensure IP management per EU Financial Regulation and Model Grant Agreement.
• Single-stage submission by 02 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
Important dates
Open from: 10/06/2025
Deadline:02/10/2025
Application period has ended
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